The members of The Grateful Dead have never been know to think clearly, even when conscious. Former Dead member Mickey Hart does nothing to jeapordize that reputation with his comments about the music industry’s reluctance to critcize the war or George Bush:
“I think people are paranoid,” former Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart
told Reuters. “I think that if they speak out, they think they’re gonna
get whacked by the government. It’s pretty oppressive now. Look at the
Dixie Chicks. They got whacked.”
Now, in what possible way did The Dixie Chicks “get whacked by the government”? What federal agency ordered people to quit buying their records or going to their concerts. Hart needs to understand it was the market at work. The Chicks disillusioned their fans and they dropped them. Simple as that. No governmental conspiracy. Just freedom of choice.